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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma County commissioners have agreed to pay $500,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a man killed in a traffic crash involving a sheriff’s deputy.

A judge approved the settlement last week, The Oklahoman (https://bit.ly/2lrsbaL ) reported. County commissioners voted in December to settle the lawsuit.

“It was a great tragedy, and there’s no question the county was at fault,” County Commissioner Brian Maughan said.

As a result of the settlement, Oklahoma County will see an increase in property taxes for the next three years.

Robert B. Porter, 66, died from injuries he sustained when deputy Jacob Owen Streeter crashed his patrol car into the back of Porter’s truck in 2014.

The lawsuit says Streeter was driving at 108 mph at the time, without emergency lights or sirens, while typing on his onboard computer at night. It accuses Streeter of being negligent, reckless and not appropriately trained.

Porter’s daughter sued the deputy and the county in 2015.

Streeter was charged with negligent homicide. He pleaded no contest. Streeter was put on probation for two years, fined $250 and barred from operating a law enforcement vehicle in an emergency mode on public roads for six months. He was also required to complete 50 hours of community service to law enforcement trainees about the risks and consequences of high speed pursuits.

Sheriff John Whetsel said the accident was preventable if the deputy would’ve followed policy, the law and his training. He suspended Streeter from work for four weeks without pay.

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